Method and apparatus for the continuous replacement of an old track by a new track

ABSTRACT

A train assembly is moved continuously along a right of way during a track renewal or replacement operation, with a first train section of cars moving on the old track rails and a second train section of cars moving on the new track. In an intermediate trackless section, the ballast is removed, cleaned and redistributed before the ties of the new track are laid while the train assembly advances continuously. The two train sections are held apart a predetermined distance to keep the length of the intermediate track section constant. A

United States Patent Plasser et al. 1451 Aug. 22, 1972' 4] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE 2,997,001 8/1961 Scheuchzer 104/2 CONTINUOUS 'REPLACEMENTOF AN 13,286,648 1-1/1966' A Brosnan ..-.l04/2 [72] Inventors: Franz Plasser; Josef Theurer, both of Johannesgasse 3, Vienna l, Austria [22] Filed: Sept. 23, 1970 21 Appl. No'.: 74,716

30 Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 7, 1969 Austria ..9453/69 [52] US. Cl ..104/2 [51] lnt.Cl....., ..E01b 29/02 [58] Field of ..104/2-6 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I 3,330,219 7/1967 Plasser et a1 ..104/2 3,465,687 9/1969 Kems ..104/2 OLD TRACK BY A NEW TRACK Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point A train assembly is moved continuously along a right of way during a'track renewal or replacementoperation, with a'first train. section of cars moving on the old track rails and a second train section of cars moving on the new track. ln an intermediate trackless section, the ballast is removed, cleaned and redistributed before the ties of the new track are laid while the train l4 Clains, 7 Drawing Figures METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS REPLACEMENT OF AN OLD TRACK BY A NEW TRACK The present invention relates to the continuously progressing replacement of old track by new track by means of a train moving along a right of way consisting of a section of old track, a section of new track and a trackless intermediate section wherein the old track is replaced by the new track on the ballast bed in the intermediate section, and more particularly to the ballast treatment in this section before the ties of the new track are laid thereon.

Track replacement apparatus of this general type has been described, for instance, in our U. S. Pat. No. 3,330,219, dated July 11, 1967, and US. Pat. No. 3,521,565, dated July 21, 1970. An improved apparatus of this type has been disclosed and claimed in our concurrently filed application entitled Movable Apparatus for Replacing an old Track by a new Track. Such apparatus includes a first train section of cars moving on the old track rails and a second train section of cars moving on the new track rails. Means on respective cars, including vertically and/or laterally moving implements, transport and support the rails and/or the ties of the old and new track, respectively receive and lay the rails and/or the ties of the old and new tracks, and guide without friction the track rails bridging the intermediate trackless section of the right of way. All these implements are controlled and operated in timed sequence during the continuous movement of the train assembly.

In known apparatus of this type, various means are arranged for movement in the trackless intermediate section of the right of way independently of the movement of the train sections, which sections also move independently of each other. The independently movable means include implements for receiving and/or laying track parts, and for working on the ballast.

This combination of three independently moving sections results in delays in putting together the entire apparatus, as well as difficulties and delays in the operation of the assembled apparatus. The efficiency of such an apparatus is further reduced because each independently moving section requires an independent drive and it is difficult to synchronize these drives during the continuous forward movement of the apparatus. If the movement of only a single section or vehicle is out of step, the work of the entire apparatus is affected thereby.

These conditions make it practically not feasible to arrange means for removing, cleaning and then redistributing the ballast in the intermediate section between the two train sections because, when such means are advanced independently of the train sections, it is not possible to deposit the cleaned ballast in those areas of the ballast bed where it is needed, particularly at the points where the new ties are laid and/or in the cribs of the newly laid track, the independent advance of the ballast treating means causing variable distances of such means from the two train sections.

It is accordingly the primary object of this invention to avoid the above disadvantages in track replacement operations of the indicated type and to provide a highly efficient, automated cooperation of all track replacement operations with an apparatus requiring relatively little space and assuring the required ballast bed treatment for the newly laid track in. a continuous flow.

The above and other objects are accomplished in a method wherein cars transporting and supporting the two rails and the ties of the old and-new tracks are continuously advanced along the tracks during the replacement. Sequential portions of the rails are continuously loosened from the ties of the old track as the cars continuously advance, the rails are lifted and spread substantially without friction after they have been loosened, the ties of the old track are continuously and sequentially removed from the ballast to provide a trackless ballast section where the rails have been lifted and spread, and the ties of the new track are continuously and sequentially placed upon the ballast at the end of the trackless ballast section. This section is of constant length and continuously advances with the advancing cars during the replacement. Sequential portions of the ballast are continuously removed from the trackless ballast section during the continuous advancement, the removed ballast is cleaned, cleaned portions of the ballast are continuously returned to the trackless ballast section, and the cleaned ballast is substantially uniformly distributed and leveled, and preferably compacted, before the ties of the new track are placed thereon. Sequential portions of the rails of the new track are lowered and moved together to assume the gage of the new track substantially without friction, and the lowered rails of the new track are fastened during the continuous advancement.

In the apparatus of the invention, an intermediate train section bridges the trackless intermediate section of the right of way, this intermediate train section is linked respectively to the first and second train sections to interconnect the same for common movement, and the intermediate train section includes means for maintaining the respective linking means at a predetermined distance in the direction of the right of way. Associated therewith are means for removing ballast from the trackless intermediate section, cleaning the removed ballast, and redistributing the cleaned ballast.

In such a method and apparatus, truly continuous track renewal is accomplished while the ballast is properly treated before the new track is laid. More particularly, it is possible to deposit the cleaned ballast not only at the points where the ties of the new track are laid but also in the cribs between the ties of the newly laid track where the ballast may then be tamped to fix the new track in position at a desired grade and alignment. In this respect, it should be noted that the volume of the ballast increases during cleaning, which produces an excess volume of ballast for filling the cribs of the new track.

According to one feature of the present invention, at least a portion of the cleaned ballast is uniformly distributed in selected cribs of the new track during the continuous advancement and preferably after the rails of the new track have been fastened to the ties of the new track.

According to another preferred feature of this invention, the contour of the uniformly distributed and leveled cleaned ballast in the trackless ballast section is controlled during the continuous advancement by sensing the height and preferably also the lateral alignment of the ballast bed after removal and redistribution of the ballast, respectively. In this manner, the trackless ballast section is graded and aligned while the continuous track replacement is effectuated.

The above, and other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of certain now preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the. accompanying schematic" drawing of track end portions of the train assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a topview of the central portion of the train assembly in the direction of arrow II of FIG. l;

FIG. 2a illustrates the arrangement and operation of a reference system;

FIG. 2b is a top view' of FIG. 1b; and I FIG. 3 is a side view of an apparatus for track replacement according to the invention.

It will be understood that, throughout the specifica-- tion and claims, the'terms newtrack and track parts refer only to the fact that they form part of a newly laid track and that such replacement rails or ties may, in fact, be used parts.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals in all figures refer to like parts functioning in a like manner to avoid redundancy in the description, FIGS. 1, 1a and 1b show the inner ends of the first and second train sections of cars used to transport and support the old and new track parts, respectively. These inner ends face each other and are adjacent an inter- I mediate trackless section of the right of way, the first train section shown in the left portion of FIG. 1 and in old ties and new. rails,.as indicated by a first of a series of transport cars 1, while the second train section U. S. Pat. No. 3,521,565, means is provided for guiding without friction the old track rails 7 and the new rails 10 (shown inchain-dotted lines) which bridge the intermediate trackless section of the right, of way, the

schematically illustrated frictionles rail means. including preferably adjustably mounted guide rollers 13 on support arm 11, the guide rollersbeing divergently arranged so that the rails are spread apart beyond the track gage in the trackless section of the right of way whereby the track laying implements as well as any ballast working apparatus in the trackless section may operate without hindrance. A support 14 is pivotally connected to the support arm 1 lfarid a vehicle or running gear. 15 with wheels arranged to move on 1 the track is vertically adjustably'mounted on a guide column 14' of the support 14 for selectively lifting and 1 lowering the-vehicle 15 out of and into an operable position on the track.

An intermediate train section is shown to comprise a I frame 16 which is a connecting part between the first and second train sections, and whose-respective ends carry-full-track vehicles '17, 17 which are selectively operable for moving on the ballast in the intermediate section of the right of way, an end bracket of the sup port extending: over and being supported on the frame 16. This frame carries a ballast cleaning machine FIG. la moving on the old track and transporting the shown in the right portion of FIG. 1 and in FIG.'1b

moves on the new track and transportsthe new ties and old rails, as indicated by a first of'a series of transport cars 2. The working direction of the train assembly is indicated by a horizontal arrow, the first train section forming the forward section of the train assembly in this working direction while the second train section forms the rear section of the train assembly in this direction.

A flat car 3 forms the rear. end of the forward train section and carries a schematically illustrated device, such as a trolley, for transporting the old ties 5 to the cars 1 and to place them on respective ones of these cars as the trolley runs over the flat platforms of these cars. Car 3 also carries a schematically illustrated implement 6 for loosening the rail spikes of old rails 7 which are shown in full lines.

All the cars of the first train section have running gears 8 moving on the old tracks 7.

' A suitable rail gripping and guiding implement 9 for receiving the old track 7, after the rail spikes have been loosened, is mounted at the rear end of flat car 3.

A universal pivot 11'' vertically above the running gear 8 of car 3 pivotally'supports a support arm 11 extending towards the intermediate section of the right of way. As more fully disclosed in our above-mentioned which, together with the track running gear supports removing ballast from ballast bed 20 while another stringer moves the removed ballast upwardly to a vibratory cleaning screen 21. Removal of the ballast to a desired depth is accomplishedby adjusting the vertical position of the transversely extending bucket conveyor stringer to a desired'level. The waste ballast is moved by a pivotal conveyor 22 laterally away from the ballast bed. Hydraulic drive means 19" is connected to bucket conveyor 19 of the ballast cleaning machine so that the conveyor may be moved into an operating position in engagement with the ballast even in the lifted position to elongated conveyor 24 which discharges it into chute 25 mounted on first car 26 of the rear train section, whence it is moved rearwardly by conveyor 35, so that the cleaned ballast may be deposited in a crib of the new track immediately behind the point where the rails of the new track have been fastened to the ties of the new track. Furthermore, the frame 16 carries a vertically adjustable ballast leveling device 29 within sight of the operating stand 28 to level the cleaned ballast returned to the trackless intermediate ballast section. A pair of laterally pivotal conveyor bands 30 are arranged to convey portions of the cleaned ballast from screen 21 forwardly, in the working direction of the apparatus, the input end of the conveyor bands 30 being placed below the chute 23.

Similarly to flat car 3, car 26 carries a trolley 4' for transporting the new ties 27 from the cars 2 and to place them in position for laying as the trolleys run forwardly over the fiat platforms of these cars. All the cars of the second-train sections have running gears 8 moving on the new track rails 10.

The pivotal connection of the second train section to the intermediate train section is a mirror image of the above-described connection thereof to the first train section, thus including the support 14 with the vertically adjustable vehicle 15 and a support arm 11. This support arm, however, carries a suitable device 32 for laying new ties 27, the structure of this device forming no part of this invention and being, therefore, only schematically shown.

As is known, the volume of the ballast increases when it is cleaned so that the entire cleaned ballast is not needed to produce the desired level or grade of the ballast bed for support of the ties 27 of the new track. The excess volume of cleaned ballast is moved back to the cribs of the new track by conveyor 24.

Furthermore, the ballast cleaning machine also carries at its rear end surface ballast compactors 31 consisting, for instance, of vibratory rollers and the like.

Car 26 of the second train section carries an implement 33 for fastening the rails of the new track to the ties 27 of the new track.

While the illustrated train assembly may be advanced along the right of way by a single drive in a given working direction, for instance by a locomotive or other tractor pulling or pushing the entire train assembly, it is also possible to mount separate drive means 34, 34 on the last car 3 of the first train section and the first car 26 of the second train section.

According to a preferred feature of the present invention, the level as well as thealignment of the ballast bed for the new track is controlled by means of a reference system including a reference line 36. The reference line may be formed by a beam of radiated energy, such as an infrared or laser beam.

As shown in FIG. 2a, a beam emitter 37 is mounted in the range of the old track so that the beam extends from the old track in a desired direction into the new track. This beam constitutes a reference line for the positional adjustment of the ballast working implements, more particularly the ballast removal conveyor 19, whose vertical position determines the depth to which ballast is removed, and ballast leveling device 29, whose vertical position determines the grade of the cleaned ballast redistributed over the bed.

The reference line cooperates with sensing means constituted by stops 36 cooperating with the reference line to control the positional adjustment of conveyor 19 and leveling device 29 in a manner well known in track reference systems. Auxiliary stop 37' serves to focus the emitter 37 for the proper positioning of reference line 36, also in a well known manner.

The total view FIG. 3 shows that the entire train assembly requires only a single drive, such as tractor or locomotive 38 coupled to the front end of the train assembly and capable of continuously advancing the train assembly during a track renewal operation as well as moving the same from one renewal site to another track 39. During such a move, the full-track vehicles 17 are retracted while the running gears engage the track rails.

We claim:

1. In a method for replacement of an old track by a new track consisting of track parts including two rails and ties supporting the rails on ballast, the steps of continuously advancing cars transporting and supporting the track parts of the old and new tracks along said tracks during the replacement, said replacement comprising continuously loosening sequential portions of the rails from the ties of the old track as the cars continuously advance, lifting and spreading the rails substantially without friction after they have been loosened, continuously and sequentially removing the ties of the old track from the ballast to provide a trackless ballast section where the rails have been lifted and spread, continuously and sequentially placing the ties of the new track upon the ballast at the end of the trackless ballast section, said trackless ballast section being of Constant length and continuously advancing with the advancing cars during the replacement, continuously removing sequential portions of the ballast from the trackless ballast section during said continuous advancement, cleaning the removed ballast, continuously returning cleaned portions of the ballast to the trackless ballast section, substantially uniformly distributing and leveling the cleaned ballast before the ties of the new track are placed thereon, lowering sequential portions of the rails of the new track and moving them together to assume the gage of the new track substantially without friction, and fastening the lowered rails to the ties of the new track during said continuous advancement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cleaned ballast is compacted.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein other cleaned portions of the ballast are distributed in the cribs between the ties of the new track during said continuous advancement.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling the contour'of the uniformly distributed and leveled cleaned ballast in the trackless ballast section during the continuous advancement by means of a reference system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the removal of the sequential portions of the ballast is also controlled by said reference system.

6. An apparatus for replacement of an old track by a new track consisting of track parts including two rails and ties supporting the rails on ballast, comprising a train assembly continuously moving along a right of way during replacement; the right of way consisting of a section of old track, a section of new track and a trackless intermediate section wherein the old track is replaced by the new track; the train assembly consisting of a first train section of cars moving on the old track rails, a second train section of cars moving on the new track rails, an intermediate train section bridging the trackless intermediate section of the right of way, means for linking the intermediate train section respectively to the first and second train sections to interconmm the same for common movement, and said intermediate train section including means for maintaining the respective linking means at a predetermined distance in the direction of the right of way, and associated therewith means for removing ballast from the trackless intermediate section, cleaning the removed ballast, and redistributing the cleaned ballast; and

- means on respective ones of said cars for transporting and supporting at least the ties of the old and new tracks, for respectively receiving at least the ties of the old track and laying at least the ties of the new track,

.and forguiding without substantial friction the track rails bridging the intermediate trackless section of the right of way. v

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the means for redistributing the cleaned ballast includes means for leveling and compacting the ballast.

Y 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the means for removing, cleaning and redistributing the ballast is mounted on the means .for maintaining the distance between the linking means.

9. The apparatus of claim. 6,

cribs between the ties of the new track.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said conveying means includes laterally pivotal conveyors.

l l. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said conveying means includes a means for depositing the conveyed portions of the cleaned ballast in selected ones of said further comprising 'means for conveying portions of the cleaned ballast to cribs, the apparatus comprising means for fastening the I rails of the new track to the newly laid ties, said ballast depositing means having an outlet end behind said fastening means in the workingdirection of the apparatus. I i

12. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a reference system including a reference line extending from the old track to the means for removing and redistributing the ballast, and sensing means cooperating with the reference line at said ballast removing and redistributing means for sensing the height of the balredistribution of the ballast, 

1. In a method for replacement of an old track by a new track consisting of track parts including two rails and ties supporting the rails on ballast, the steps of continuously advancing cars transporting and supporting the track parts of the old and new tracks along said tracks during the replacement, said replacement comprising continuously loosening sequential portions of the rails from the ties of the old track as the cars continuously advance, lifting and spreading the rails substantially without friction after they have been loosened, continuously and sequentially removing the ties of the old track from the ballast to provide a trackless ballast section where the rails have been lifted and spread, continuously and sequentially placing the ties of the new track upon the ballast at the end of the trackless ballast section, said trackless ballast section being of constant length and continuously advancing with the advancing cars during the replacement, continuously removing sequential portions of the ballast from the trackless ballast section during said continuous advancement, cleaning the removed ballast, continuously returning cleaned portions of the ballast to the trackless ballast section, substantially uniformly distributing and leveling the cleaned ballast before the ties of the new track are placed thereon, lowering sequential portions of the rails of the new track and moving them together to assume the gage of the new track substantially without friction, and fastening the lowered rails to the ties of the new track during said continuous advancement.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereiN the cleaned ballast is compacted.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein other cleaned portions of the ballast are distributed in the cribs between the ties of the new track during said continuous advancement.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling the contour of the uniformly distributed and leveled cleaned ballast in the trackless ballast section during the continuous advancement by means of a reference system.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the removal of the sequential portions of the ballast is also controlled by said reference system.
 6. An apparatus for replacement of an old track by a new track consisting of track parts including two rails and ties supporting the rails on ballast, comprising a train assembly continuously moving along a right of way during replacement; the right of way consisting of a section of old track, a section of new track and a trackless intermediate section wherein the old track is replaced by the new track; the train assembly consisting of a first train section of cars moving on the old track rails, a second train section of cars moving on the new track rails, an intermediate train section bridging the trackless intermediate section of the right of way, means for linking the intermediate train section respectively to the first and second train sections to interconnect the same for common movement, and said intermediate train section including means for maintaining the respective linking means at a predetermined distance in the direction of the right of way, and associated therewith means for removing ballast from the trackless intermediate section, cleaning the removed ballast, and redistributing the cleaned ballast; and means on respective ones of said cars for transporting and supporting at least the ties of the old and new tracks, for respectively receiving at least the ties of the old track and laying at least the ties of the new track, and for guiding without substantial friction the track rails bridging the intermediate trackless section of the right of way.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the means for redistributing the cleaned ballast includes means for leveling and compacting the ballast.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the means for removing, cleaning and redistributing the ballast is mounted on the means for maintaining the distance between the linking means.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising means for conveying portions of the cleaned ballast to cribs between the ties of the new track.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said conveying means includes laterally pivotal conveyors.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said conveying means includes a means for depositing the conveyed portions of the cleaned ballast in selected ones of said cribs, the apparatus comprising means for fastening the rails of the new track to the newly laid ties, said ballast depositing means having an outlet end behind said fastening means in the working direction of the apparatus.
 12. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a reference system including a reference line extending from the old track to the means for removing and redistributing the ballast, and sensing means cooperating with the reference line at said ballast removing and redistributing means for sensing the height of the ballast bed after removal and redistribution of the ballast, respectively.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the reference system further includes means for sensing the lateral alignment of the ballast bed.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the reference line is a beam of radiated energy and the sensing means includes stop and receiving means in the path of the beam. 